Tape-measured holder and pincushion.



M. H. SLATER. TAPE MEASURE HOLDER AND PINCUSHION;

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, I916.

Patentd Apr, 30, 1918.

171,067 0170 'l? Nfiff 5 7."

E-MEASUEE HOLDER AND PINCUSHION.

naenaar.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3d, 11..

Application filed September 22, 1918. Serial life. 121,551.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MABEL H. SLATER, a citizen of the United States residing at Webster, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented new' and useful Improvements in Tape-Measure Holders and Pincushions, of which the fol-. lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved handy box which is adapted to hold a tape measure and constitutes a pin cushion, the same bein provided with a container adapted to hold needles, hooks, eyes, buttons, thimbles, et cetera.

The principal novelty of the invention consists inthe construction whereby a tape measure is contained within a pin cushion, the pin cushion representing a human head and preferabl decorated and designed to represent a hinese face with ears and mouth and with a braid or pigtail attached thereto which forms a convenient means of support for the device, the pigtail being made of strands of thread, whlch strands may be separated from the same when it is desired to use them.

The device is so constructed that the end of the tape measure constitutes a stop and is colored to represent a tongue which projects from the mouth of the device while I the spring by which said tape measure is retained within the head is released (to allow the tap measure to. be drawn rapidly into the mouth) by means terminating adjacent to the .ears of the device, so that when one ear .is pressed the tape measure will be released and the tape will be rapidly drawn into the month until the end of the same projects from the mouth, thus presenting the appearance of a'face with the tongue protruding.

Sound producing means are embodied within the head so that as the tape measure J is drawn out from the mouth or retracted within the same a squeaking noise is produced, the object of this device being not only to provide a useful device but one which is also amusing.

With these ends in view the invention consists in a device of the character set forth in the following specification and particularly in the combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the claims.

spiral spring 17, one end Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved handy box.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on line 33 of Pi 2.

Fig. 4 is a etail section of the cam.

Like numerals refer to like out the several views of the rawings.

1n the drawings, 5 is a casing preferabl formed of fabric and being provided wit ears 6, 7 and an opening 8 constituting a mouth. The device may be suspended by means of a pigtail 9 constituting a handle formed of strands 10 of thread which may be separated or detached from the same when-desired. Within the casing 5 is contamed a frame 11, preferably formed of sheet metal and fastened to the top of a hollow cylindrical base 12, which base is prov1ded with a container 13 slidably mounted therein and provided with a closure or cap 14. The frame 11 has a tubular hub 15 proectmg nwardly from one side thereof and upon sald hub a reel 16 is rotatably mounted. The reel 16 is actuated in one direction by a of which is attached to the reel 16 and the other end of which is attached to the hub 15. A tape measure 18 has one end thereof attached to the periphery of the reel 16 and said tape measure 18 projects from the reel through a tube 19 and out of the mouth 8. One end of said tube 19 is aflixed to the frame 11 and the other end is attached to the casin 5.

Said tape measure has attached t ereto upon 1ts outer free'end a stop 20 which is preferably colored and shaped to represent the tip of a tongue, while the. tape measure itself is'colored red to represent a tongue.

The reel 6 is rotated in one direction by the tape 18 and in the opposite direction by the spring 17 and is locked in position by arms 21 which are fastened to and extend radially from a tube 22. The arms 21 are forced against the face of the reel 16 by a spring 23 and when in that position enga e the1 teeth 24 formed upon one face of said ree The tube 22 projects through the hub 15 and terminates ad acent to the ear 6, while arts throughanother tube fast to the frame 11 projects therefrom into the ear 7. The arms 21 project through slots 26 in the hub 15.

In order to produce a squeaking poise a bellows 27 is provided, the movable arm 28 and holds the arm 29against' the cam plate tective means which 4. The movable arm 28 of the bellows has a whistle 36 attached thereto, so that when the bellows closes b the action of the spring 35 the whistle will e operated.

While I prefer to have the casing 5 of fabric it maybe formed of other material without do arting from the spirit of my invention. aid fabric is held distended by any suitable yielding material 37 such as cotton batting or the ike, and thus it will be seen that the head portionoutside the reel forms a pin cushion and also forms a prorevents the mechanism of the reel and the sound producing mechanism from becoming injured.

The general operation of the device hereinbefore specifically describedis as follows:

The device can be held or suspended by means of the pigtail 9. When it is desired to remove any of the contents from the container 13, said container can be slipped downwardly out of the hollow base 12 for 7 that purpose. When it is desiredto draw the tape out of the reel, it may be done by taking hold of the stop 20'and pulling the tape out to the desired distance, whereupon it will belocked by the arms 21 engagmg the teeth 24.

When it is desired to release the reel so that the tape shall be wound up it is done by pressing inwardly upon the tube 22. A convenient Way of performing this operation is to place a finger against the ear 7 and press the ear 6 with the thumb. Thus the tube 22 will be forced inwardly, the spring 23 will be compressed and the arms 21 will move laterally away from and out of engagement with the teeth 24, whereupon the spring 18 will cause the reel 16 to rotate and the ta e 18 will be wound up until the etc 20 strl es'the portion of the casing 5 whic immediately surrounds the mouth 8.

I claim:

' 1. A device of the character described ber connected to said reel extending outwardly therefrom through an aperture pro vided in said casing and representing the mouth of said head, sound producing means inclosed within said casing andmeohanism actuated by said reel to operate said sound producing means.

3. A device of the character described having, in combination, a casing in the form of a head, a spring-actuated reel rotatably mounted within said casing, a flexible member connected to said reel and extending outwardly therefrom through an aperture provided in said casin and representing the mouth of said head, a l ellows inclosed within said casing, a Whistle connected to said bellows, a cam fast to said reel and an arm connected to said bellows and engaging said cam.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MABEL H. SLATER. Witnesses:

JOHN W. Bunouss, HENRY F. ELDRIDGE. 

